admin China is intensifying control over international travel by confiscating passports of key groups like civil servants, teachers, and executives. This move is a part of efforts to prevent potential security breaches and manage internal challenges. The tightening of passport restrictions comes as President Xi Jinping reinstates internal controls reminiscent of the Mao Zedong era, heightening the focus on national security.
Experts note that Beijing’s actions aim to curb the risk of economic instability driving people to leave China. As consumer confidence and economic growth decline, these passport controls are seen as a way to prevent talent and capital from leaving the country. For many, this evokes memories of the period when China maintained strict internal regulations to shield the nation from external influences.
Notably, these restrictions are also a response to increasing concerns about infiltration and the leaking of sensitive information. Authorities have mandated that individuals, including teachers and even retirees, surrender their passports to curb overseas travel. Observers report that retrieving passports for travel requires a detailed review process, including disclosing the trip’s purpose and duration.
These heightened restrictions have escalated since Xi’s rise to power in 2012. Moreover, the pandemic further entrenched movement controls, with travel bans and limited passport issuance being key measures during the COVID-19 crisis. Although these controls are partly justified under health policies, their impact extends to limiting international exchanges vital to economic recovery.
China’s decision to enforce stringent passport controls is affecting its economy, with fewer international exchanges stifling potential growth. Experts suggest that such measures hinder economic progress and undermine global engagement at a time when China faces significant internal economic pressures.
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